Gladstone junior Tia Schone (22) darts a pass against Marquette on Jan. 16, 2024 at Gladstone High School.

GLADSTONE — A 29-point, 14-rebound double-double by sophomore Lillie Johnson propelled Gladstone girls basketball to a 62-32 victory over Marquette on Tuesday.

A pair of double-figure scoring runs and 29 Marquette turnovers told the story of this contest.

The Braves’ led 5-3 when they went on a 13-0 run. Johnson started the run with a layup going to the basket. On the next Braves’ next possession junior Alexa Wetthuhn was fouled as she made a move to the basket and went two the free throw line where she converted a pair. Braves junior Mayce Hanson connected a three to put the Braves’ up 12-3. Johnson hit from downtown of a Marquette turnover.

The Braves’ had 36 points off turnovers in the contest. “I feel we did a better job of pressuring their guards tonight,” Braves’ coach Andy Cretens said. “Ball control is one of their weaknesses, and we did a good job of exploiting that tonight.”

Braves’ junior Tia Schone finished off the run with with a three to extend the Braves’ lead to 18-3. “We hit a lot of shots tonight,” Schone said. “It was a great day for everyone offensively and defensively.”

Marquette junior Payton Bullock hit a three at the buzzer to end the first quarter, and the Braves led 18-6.

The Braves picked the energy right back up to start the second quarter on a 12-0 run. Schone started off this run with a mid-range jumper to extend the lead to 20-6. Johnson followed that up with a top of the key three and the Braves led 23-6. Johnson added a layup and freshman Eva Pankonien hit a left wing three to extend the lead to 28-6. Johnson capped off the run with a layup and the Braves’ led 30-6.

Marquette junior Aubree Blackburn hit a pair of free throws to halt the Gladstone run. Marquette sophomore Lexi Curran hit a three and Blackburn converted another pair from the line and the Braves’ led 32-13.

Johnson finished off the second quarter for the Braves’ with back-to-back layups and Gladstone led 36-13 at halftime. “We play much better when we get off to a fast start,” Cretens said. “That was really a point of emphasis for us because we haven’t had the best starts to games up to this point.”

Marquette junior Brianna Anderson got the third quarter started with a jumper to cut the Braves lead to 36-15.

Johnson started the scoring for the Braves’ in the second half on a layup that was followed up by a layup for Schone and a mid-range jumper by sophomore Addy Blowers and the Braves’ extended the lead to 42-15. Johnson hit a laup and connected on a pair of free throws to end the third quarter with Gladstone up 46-19. “We didn’t come out with energy tonight,” Marquette coach Ben Smith said. “We struggled with our ball handling and we let them have pretty much whatever they wanted offensively.”

The Braves continued their dominate play in the fourth quarter Pankonien hit a pair of corner three’s and had eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter.

The Braves return to action against Menominee at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Box Score

Marquette 6 7 6 13 –32

Gladstone 18 18 10 16 –62

Marquette — Pleaugh 2, Curran 5, Keskimaki 1, Anderson 6, Maskart 3, Blackburn 4, Elmblad 4, Bullock 7. FT: 15-22; F: 13; Fouled Out: None; 3-point field goals: Bullock 2, Curran.

Gladstone — Blowers 2, Hanson 6, Pankonien 13, Johnson 29, Schone 10, Wetthuhn 2. FT: 4-4; F: 19; Fouled Out: None; 3-point field goals: Pankonien 3, Johnson 3, Hanson 2, Schone 2.